Transcript Natural processes and cycles

Ecological Integrity of Earth
The Earth Systems - ecosystem services
• Those
natural
processes
and systems
that sustain
life on earth
• Life support
systems
Ecological Integrity - Earth’s resources
Water
Air
Species
Soil
Energy
Earth
Minerals
Natural processes and cycles
• Life on earth is dependent on:
– One way flow of energy from the sun
– Cycling of nutrients
Natural processes and cycles
• Earth’s cycles:
– Nutrient cycling
includes:
• Carbon cycle
• Nitrogen cycle
– Photosynthesis
– Soil formation
How are we dependent on
trees and other
producers?
Natural processes and cycles
• Earth’s cycles:
• Hydrologic
cycle
– Ground water
– Surface water
How long can we
consumers survive
without water?
Natural processes and cycles
• Earth’s atmosphere
– Green house Effect - a
natural “heat trap”
– GHGs
– Is this GHE “bad”?
– Ozone Layer - filters out
harmful ultraviolet
(u.v.) light
Earth’s Biodiversity
• Earth’s incredible
genetic library Biosphere
• Biodiversity includes:
– Species diversity
– Genetic diversity
– Ecological diversity
How long will we last in a
biologically impoverished
world?
Earth’s Biodiversity
• Classified/Describes 1.4 million species on Earth
• Scientists estimate possibly 30 to 50 million species
on Earth
• Greatest diversity in tropical regions
Earth’s Biodiversity
• Current extinction
rate is 1 to 100
species per day
• Greatest extinction
rate in the history of
the Earth
Human Systems
• Earth formed about
4.6 billion years ago
• Human systems
change the Earth
forever
Human Population
• Consumption of
resources grows
• Environmental
degradation
becomes a
global problem
Human population
• Human
population
expands
• Hunter-gatherer
societies to
Industrial
Revolution
Human Population
• Impacts on
resources of
highly developed
versus less
developed
countries
Earth’s carrying capacity
• Humans as a
part of nature
. . to apart
from nature
• Movement
from rural to
urban
societies
Cultural Change Activity
• H-G (HUNTERGATHERERS)
• AGRICULTURAL
REVOLUTION
• INDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTION
EARTH
WISDOM
ENERGY
USE
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT
HUNTER-GATHERERS
• EARTH WISDOM- EXPERT
KNOWLEDGE OF NATURAL
SURROUNDINGS: KNEW
HOW TO GATHER PLANTS
AND ANIMALS FOR FOOD,
CLOTHING, MEDICINE.
• ENERGY SOURCES FROM
SUN, FIRE, MUSCLE POWER
• MORE ADVANCED,
GREATER IMPACT BUT
EXPLOITED TO SURVIVE
• IMPACT LIMITED, LOCAL
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES
• LESS EARTH WISDOM THAN
H-G BUT EARLY ONES STILL
HAD GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF
NATURAL SURROUNDINGS
• SLASH/BURN, SHIFTING
CULTIVATION, SUBSISTENCE
• METAL PLOW
• INCREASED E USE, BR &
MATERIAL GOODS INCREASE
• MORE DESTRUCTION OF
HABITATS
INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES
• NOT MUCH EARTH WISDOM
• SHIFT FROM RENEWABLE TO
NON-RENEWABLE (COAL 1ST)
• MID ~1700’S; HUGE CHANGE-GREAT ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT
• INCREASE E CONSUMPTION
• FACTORIES, MANY RESOURCE
AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROBLEMS